Ferrari may already have within its own ranks the driver who could one day replace Lewis Hamilton, with Deputy Team Principal Jérôme d’Ambrosio openly expressing his satisfaction over the progress of young Brazilian talent Rafael Camara.
Following the recent public remarks made by Lewis Hamilton, some voices in the Formula 1 paddock have suggested that Scuderia Ferrari should already be considering who might eventually succeed the seven-time world champion. At the moment, it seems unlikely that Hamilton, who races under the number 44, will say goodbye to the Maranello team before the end of his current contract. However, those in charge at Ferrari prefer to remain fully prepared for any possible scenario, even those that may appear improbable.
If Hamilton were to leave before the end of his time with the team, the most logical choice would seem to be promoting Oliver “Ollie” Bearman. The young British driver impressed the motorsport world with a remarkable debut last season, competing with both Ferrari and Haas. His composure, adaptability, and outright pace confirmed him as one of the most naturally talented and mature prospects of his generation, ready to take on the challenges of the top tier of motorsport.
However, in recent weeks, another name has been making headlines and generating considerable discussion among insiders. That name is Rafael Camara, who has just secured the Formula 3 championship after a dominant rookie season in which he consistently outperformed his rivals. From start to finish, Rafael Camara demonstrated remarkable racecraft, speed, and consistency — qualities that caught the attention of the Ferrari Driver Academy, of which he is a member.
Because of this connection, Ferrari’s leadership has been carefully monitoring Camara’s progress. This interest was made clear by Jérôme d’Ambrosio after Camara’s triumph with Trident Motorsport. “When you have a talent like Rafa in your hands, it is almost natural to expect results of this kind,” d’Ambrosio said. “Our job is to support him in the best possible way so that he can fully express his talent. He has already done this in past seasons, and I believe that this year he has taken another step forward.”
The Belgian former Formula 1 driver also revealed that his admiration for Rafael Camara began long before he joined Ferrari in an official role. “When I was not yet at Ferrari, I was already following Camara because we often competed against him,” he explained. “Over time, he has grown both as a driver and as a person off the track. And when you invest in young talents, this is exactly what you expect to see. In recent months, I have worked closely with him and I was impressed by the fact that he knows exactly what he needs in order to perform.”
D’Ambrosio also made it clear what the long-term goal should be. “The objective for him must be Formula 1,” he said, “and for us, it is to make sure that he can one day drive for Ferrari. For now, he must concentrate on Formula 2. It will be a great challenge, and we will try to prepare him in the best possible way for this new adventure.”
Although Hamilton’s departure from Ferrari is not expected in the immediate future, the presence of both Ollie Bearman and Rafael Camara in the team’s driver development structure ensures that the Scuderia has strong options for the years to come. In Formula 1, where careers can shift direction rapidly, this type of forward planning can be an invaluable advantage.
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